Anatomical dental flask



P 1941 J. E. WAGNER 2,254,556

ANATOMICAL DENTAL FLASK Filed April 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllls i'iiTnnllfli p 2, J. E. WAGNER ANATOMICAL DENTAL FIJASK 2 Sheets-SheetFiled April 26, 1940 Ill/ll] Jay 15! Wag/lei Patented Sept. 2, 1941UNITED STTES OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention relates to dental flasks and more particularly to a flaskconstructed in accordance with the anatomical shape of the humanmaxillary and mandible arches.

Under present practice, dentures are constructed in flasks the sectionsof which are usually separated upon substantially horizontal lineshaving no relation to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary andmandible arches.

Such flasks make no provision for following out the details of theanatomical shape of the human jaw in the construction of denturestherein.

It is also necessary that the investment in such unanatomical flasks beundercut causing frequent fractures of the cast or denture formedtherein.

Considerable difficulty is experienced in the use of such dental flasksas are now generally used due to distortion of the physical shape of theflask under necessary pressures while in use, which frequently resultsin distortion or fracture of the denture being formed therein.

Difficulty is also experienced in separating the sections of the flaskstoremove the completed denture, and in removing the investment from theopened flask as the denture is frequently broken in this operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a dental flask whichovercomes the ob-J'ections to the type of flasks now in general use.

A further object is toprovide a flask in which the upper and lowersections thereof separate along anatomical lines conforming to the humanmaxillary and mandible arches.

A further object is the provision of a flask which will permit ofinvesting the denture case for construction following out in all detailsof anatomical variations of the human maxillary and mandible arches.

A still further object is to provide such a flask in which the lowersection is provided with a heel of suflicient height to permit apositive protection to the casts from fracture during the process ofconstruction under the various pressures which of a necessity must beapplied, to insure a correct anatomical finished product.

Another object is the provision of a dental flask in which the uppersection has a long or deep front which provides substantially threetimes as much space for the recaption of the anterior upper teeth,assuring greater protection against movement or displacement of theteeth under the necessary pressure to alford a properl finished product.1

Still another object is the provision of a dental flask which permits aninvestment void of any undercuts which might cause fractures of the castor teeth.

A further object is the provision of a flask having novel means forlocking the flask sections to ether at the heel and face of the flask,providing a dual locking of the sections which prevents forward,backward or lateral movement or shifting of the flask sections relativeto each other.

.A still further object is the provision of such a flask with a lid lockwhich together with the above mentioned dual lock provides a triple lockfor locking the entire flask absolutely rigidly together as a unit,thus, dispensing with the necessity of the mechanical clamps and pressesordinarily used.

Still another object is the provision of reinforcement ribs on the topof the lid of the flask to prevent buckling under pressure.

Still another object is to provide a dental flask in which the entirestress of necessary pressures under development or construction of thedenture is carried by the flask itself instead of being applied aaginstthe internal investment.

Another object is to provide such a flask in which the sections can beopened and closed on anatomical lines, preserving the internalinvestment to such an extent as to permit duplication, of the denture ina great majority of cases.

A still further object is to provide a flask having a lid or cover lockprovided with degree markings for carefully recording the position ofthe lock for the original investment so as to exactly duplicate theamount of wax in the case with the dental material, either rubber orplastic of which the plate is made.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description or which may be later referred to maybe attained by constructing the improved dental flask in the mannerillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top planview of a dental flask embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a rear or heel elevation of the flaskf Fig. 3, a side elevationof the flask;

Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional View through the flask showing theposition of an upper plate therein;

Fig. 5, a separated or expanded View of the flask sections and lid orcover;

Fig. 6, a plan View of a slightly modified form of the improved flaskwhich is especially adapted for forming lower plates; 7

Fig. 7, a rear or heel elevation of the flask shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9, a top plan view of the lower section of the flask shown in Figs.6 to 8, inclusive;

Fig. 10, a longitudinal sectional view through the modified form offlask showing the position of a lower plate therein; and

Fig. 11, a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line I l-l I, Fig.8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improved dental flask to which the invention pertains comprisesgenerally the lower or drag section [5, the upper or cope section [6 andthe lid or cover I i.

The several parts of the flask may be, formed of manganese bronze, brassor other suitable material.

The lower or drag section comprises the bottom wall IB and-thecontinuous side wall l9 upwardly flared as indicated in the drawings soas to provide sufficient draft to permit easy removal of the investment.

Thef-ace or front 20 of the lower flask section is approximatelyone-half the height of the heel or back 2| thereof so that the upperedge of this section may be substantially straight or horizontal at thefront of the flask as shown at 22 and then curves upwardly andrearwardly conforming substantially to' the curve of Spee orcompensating curve of the human jaw as indicated at 23 and meetingthestraight substantially horizontal upper edge'24-at the heel or back ofthe flask. r

The upper or cope section iii of the flask is open at both the top andbottom and comprises the continuous downwardly flared sidewall 25, the

the two'sections of the flask against lateral as well as forwardor'backward movement relative to each other and comprises opendownwardly tapered exterior pockets 3| formed upon the exterior of thelower section I at the centers of the front and back thereof, andcorrespondingly shaped depending tapered lugs 32 formed upon the uppersection It and adapted to snugly fit within said pockets asbestshown inFigs. 2 and 7..

V For the purpose of providing means for quickly and easily separatingthe flask sections an inner central recess 33 is, formedin the'top ofeachpocket 3! to permit a flat tool such as a screw driver or knife tobe inserted beneath the ends of the lugs 32 in order to pry the topsection upward.

gaging under the pocket portions 3| of the rib on the lower section.These bolts extend through openings in the ears 38 formed at the frontand back of the cover or lid.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, each of these ears may have'aninclined upper surface as shown at 39 provided with one or more teeth 40for engagement with the teeth 4| upon the inclined undersurface of thecam clamping member 42 provided with a lever handle 43 for operating.

provided upon the top of the lid or cover I! for indicating the positionof each cam lever 43 in the original investment, permitting of a perfectrecording of the amount of wax in the case, which must be exactlyduplicated with the dental material, either rubber or plastic, of whichthe plate is made. v

A reinforcing rib 41 is preferably provided around the edge of the lidor cover I! and one or more ribs 48 may be formed upon the surfacethereof to prevent distortion of the lid under pressure.

Either form of the flask may be used for making both upper and lowerplates, but the form shown in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, is especially d:adapted for makinglower plates as the heel or rear side of each sectionof this flask is provided at each side with the recesses 49 toaccommodate the heel of the lower plate to be formed therein;

, As shown in Fig. 8 andFig. 10, the upper edge of the lower flasksection may be provided at each side, near the rear or heel of the flaskwith a substantially half-round notch 50 to receive a correspondingshaped-lug 5| depending from the 401edge of the upper flask section.

5; relative forward and backward movement of the flask sections.

As best shown in Fig. 11, the opposed or meeting edges of the upper andlower flask sections may be inwardly inclined as shown at 52 so as mmcause the sections to fit more tightly together.

In Fig. 4- is shownin dotted lines at 53 the position of an upper platewithin the flask, and in Fig. 10 is shown in dotted lines at 54 theposition of a lower plate within the flask.

The upper edge of the cope or upper section [6 7 may be provided withtapered notches 34 to receive the depending tapered lugs 35 at the edgeof the lid or cover H.

The triple locking means for locking the two sections and the lid orcover together includes, bolts 35 having hooked lower ends 31 for.en-'75 the flask may be opened and closed on anatomi These views showhow the height of theheel of the lower flask section provides a positiveprotection to the casts from fracture during the process of constructionunder the pressures which must of necessity be applied, to assure acorrect anatomical finished product.

It will also be seen how the long front of theupper flask sectionpermitssubstantially three times as much space for the recaption of thegQaHtGIiOI' upper teeth, assuring greater protection from movement ordisplacement, of the teeth under the necessary pressures.

It will also be obvious th-a-tthe improved flask permits an investmentvoid of any undercuts which might cause fractures of the cast or teeth,this being on account of the anatomical lines of the flask. V 7

It will be seen that owing to the shape of the flask sections and thedraft provided therein,

cal lines, preserving; the internal investment to such an extent aspermitting duplication of the denture in the great majority of cases.

This direct opening of the flask which protects the internal investmentmakes it possible to reproduce the second denture on the originalinvestment or cast.

It has been found that in the use of the improved flask that it is notnecessary to melt the wax in order to open the flask as the heat createdunder chemical reaction during the first or 6 minutes of the setting ofthe plaster in the internal investment creates sufflcient heat to permitthe flask to be opened cold.

The fundamental, anatomic basic theories in the construction of thisflask may be appreciated from a careful study of the picture of thehuman skull appearing on page 34, Fig. 1 of Prosthetic Dentistry, by IraGoodsell Nichols, D. D. 5., Lieutenant Commander, U. S. N. B.

At page 38 of this same volume is shown the above mentioned curve ofSpec or compensating curve known to exist in all human anatomy, andrecognized since the early study of dental science.

Pages 216 to 233 show the use of various denture cases underconstruction and demonstrate the importance of preserving in thefinished denture the same curves of the honey structures.

Pages 238 and 239 of the same volume treat upon the investing of thecase to preserve the features of the set-up, and as illustrated show howunder present practice this is attempted in an unanatomic flat lineflask which does not permit of an investment void of undercuts withdirect ease of opening for trial test packing, or for obtaining thecorrect amount ofdenture material for proper construction of awelladapted, comfortably fitting denture due to distorting and fracturesof the internal investment.

I claim:

1. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehuman maxillary and, mandible arches and comprising a relatively low,straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined byupwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming tothe anatomical curve of the human jaw.

2. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehuman maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively lowstraight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined byupwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming tothe anatomical curve of the human jaw, the back wall of the lowersection being substantially twice the height of the front wall thereof.

3. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehuman maxillary and mandible arches, and being substantially straight atthe front and rear of the flask and curved upward and rearward at eachside of the flask substantially conforming to the anatomical curve ofthe human jaw.

4. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehuman maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively lowstraight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined byupwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming tothe anatomical curve of the human jaw, the front wall of the uppersection being substantially twice the height of the rear wall thereof.

5. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehuman maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively lowstraight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined byupwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming tothe anatomical curve of the human jaw, and external reinforcing ribsaround the meeting edge portions of the flask sections.

6. A dental flask including a lower section and A an upper sectionfitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meetingedges of the flask sections substantially conformin to the anatomicallines of the human maxillary and mandible arches, and beingsubstantially straight at the front and rear of the flask and curvedupward and rearward at each side of the flask substantially conformingto the anatomical curve of the human jaw, there being substantiallyhalf-round notches in the edge of one flask section near the rear of theflask and cooperating lugs upon the other flask section.

7. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehuman maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively lowstraight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined byupwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming tothe anatomical curve of the human jaw, said meeting edges of the flasksections being inwardly inclined.

8. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fittingtogether at their opposed edges; the contour of the meeting edges of theflask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of thehumanmaxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively low.straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined byupwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming tothe anatomical curve of the human jaw, there being tapered'pockets uponthe exterior of the lower flask section at the front and rear in themedian line thereof, and cooperating tapered lugs upon the uppersection.

JAY E. WAGNER.

